We set off at 8am, in rather chilly dank conditions. When we got to Norton Junction, we turned right towards Braunston instead of left towards home. There were no boats stirring at the junction, or on the run down to the tunnel. At the tunnel, there was a kingfisher sitting on a branch right at the tunnel mouth; you can just make him out if you zoom right in.
As we came through the tunnel I could see a light behind us, so I was pretty sure we’d have a partner down the locks. We passed one boat inside, right at the Braunston end; if I’d been them, I’d have waited outside for us to come out. At the top lock, a couple of volunteer lock keepers had been running water down to a low pound a bit further down, but then filled the lock for us. By the time that was done, the boat behind had arrived and we shared the locks down.
We made excellent progress down the locks, meeting uphill boats at a couple of them. The shop at the bottom lock has a window full of slightly frightening Royal portraits.
A boat had gone into the dry dock next to the bottom lock, and they began to drain the water as we came down the lock, so that by the time we needed to leave there was quite a jet of water across the exit.
We’d wondered whether we’d find space to moor in Braunston, but in fact there was loads of space. We opted for the first mooring after the marina entrance (the one with the wooden bridge over it). It’s a nice open spot, and the only one by the other marina entrance was under a tree; a few minutes later, the two boats moored down that way left, meaning we were one of only two boats here. It’s filled up since, though, and is now full.
We walked up to the butcher in the village so I could get food for the next few days, and I also managed to sort out a boat test for tomorrow. Later in the afternoon, Adrian got changed into his uniform and headed off to work — his car having been left here on Saturday.
I washed the roof of the boat. While I was doing that, I saw an example of why sounding your horn is no substitute for a lookout. A share boat came steaming out of the marina, and only narrowly missed a hire boat coming down from the locks. It had given a warning, but there were spare crew who could have been on lookout duty, and there was no need to be exiting that fast either.
5 miles, 6 locks. (44 miles, 34 locks)
2 comments:
. . . and sounding a horn is no substitute for understanding that it does not help those with restricted hearing. I had that happen yesterday at a bridge hole where I sort of thought I heard something briefly so slowed right down only for a boat to come under a bridge on a blind bend at full tilt!
I always go up the front as look out at junctions and give a signal to the steerer when coming out of the marina.
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